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Germany’s Globalist Leaders Spark Outrage with Grinning Selfie at Pope’s Funeral as AfD Shows Solemn Statesmanship

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3 months ago

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Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (right) on a selfie with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier via X (Twitter)

A grinning selfie taken by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder on the way to Pope Francis’ funeral has triggered widespread condemnation, fueling fresh criticism of Germany’s political elite for their uncouth disregard of decorum and Christian values.

The image, shared on social media by Steinmeier and Söder themselves, showed the two smiling broadly inside a government vehicle en route to the Vatican ceremony. The timing and tone of the post, as one might expect, drew immediate backlash from both conservative commentators and ordinary citizens, who accused the officials of turning a sacred event into a moment of personal vanity.

“Two of the nation’s top officials acting like schoolboys on a class trip—only the beer cans are missing,” remarked Frédéric Schwilden in Die Welt, one of Germany’s papers of record, calling it a “godless neglect of political culture.”

In stark contrast, representatives of the primary opposition party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), who were also present in Rome, conducted themselves with a markedly different tone. Nicole Höchst, Member of the Bundestag, and Petr Bystron, Member of the European Parliament, attended the funeral as official representatives of the AfD. Both abstained from media theatrics, maintaining a quiet and reverent presence during the solemn ceremony.

“Pope Francis always stood up for the weak and marginalized,” said Höchst in a statement ahead of the funeral. “His legacy reminds us, as political representatives, to assume responsibility for social cohesion.”

Bystron, speaking from Rome, added: “Regardless of political differences, we honor Pope Francis as a voice of morality and conscience in an increasingly secularized world. With our participation, we wish to underline the enduring importance of the Catholic Church for Europe’s identity and the preservation of Christian values.”

The selfie incident is the latest in a series of perceived embarrassments involving Germany’s governing officials. Just days before the funeral, Berlin’s SPD Senator for Labor, Cansel Kiziltepe, stirred controversy by referring to Tesla vehicles as “Nazi cars” on social media, a remark widely condemned as trivializing the Holocaust. One user responded: “Those who make such comparisons degrade concentration camps to parking lots.”

Critics say these episodes reflect a deeper cultural malaise within Germany’s political establishment, one marked by an excess of vanity, disrespect for tradition, and a persistent double standard in how political behavior is judged.

While AfD, the boogieman for Germany’s globalist establishment, is frequently accused of failing to uphold proper conduct, it was the party’s own representatives who upheld a standard of dignity in Rome, while top officials from the ruling coalition drew criticism for unbecoming conduct.

Notably absent from the funeral was CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who has positioned himself as a future chancellor. His nonappearance drew attention as world leaders such as Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron used the occasion to engage in symbolic gestures of diplomacy and unity.

The absence was criticized by conservative economist and former Bundestag candidate Prof. Max Otte, who commented: “Angela Merkel, Robert Habeck, Annalena Baerbock, and Olaf Scholz have ruined Germany. Friedrich Merz will now likely become its insolvency administrator, liquidator, and asset manager.”

The episode in Rome that Söder and Steinmeier are surely anxious to put behind them has highlighted what many see as the widening gulf between the political class and the values of ordinary Germans. While establishment politicians take selfies and trade insults online, the AfD continues to position itself as the only serious political outfit in Germany and the voice of traditional values, national dignity, and Christian heritage.

The post Germany’s Globalist Leaders Spark Outrage with Grinning Selfie at Pope’s Funeral as AfD Shows Solemn Statesmanship appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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GOP Senator John Thune Quietly BLOCKS Trump Recess Appointments with Sneaky Procedural Maneuver — Launches Series of Pro Forma Sessions to Keep Senate in Fake “Session” During August Recess

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13 hours ago

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August 3, 2025

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R‑SD) has unveiled a procedural scheme to block President Donald Trump from making any critical appointments during the August recess, effectively aiding the Democrats’ obstructionist agenda.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the president can make “recess appointments,” temporary appointments to federal positions, if the Senate is in recess and not conducting business. These appointments don’t require immediate Senate confirmation and can last until the end of the next session of Congress.

But there’s a loophole: if the Senate holds pro forma sessions, very short, symbolic meetings where no actual business is conducted, then technically, the Senate is still in session. That means the president cannot legally make recess appointments during that time.

John Thune has quietly secured unanimous‑consent for a paper‑thin Senate schedule through the Trump appointee confirmation deadline, ensuring only pro forma sessions on five key dates in early August.

Under the agreement, the chamber will adjourn after today’s business and reconvene without conducting any votes or business on:

  • Tue, Aug 5 – 1:00 p.m.
  • Fri, Aug 8 – 1:05 p.m.
  • Tue, Aug 12 – 8:00 a.m.
  • Fri, Aug 15 – 10:15 a.m.
  • Tue, Aug 19 – 10:00 a.m.
  • Fri, Aug 22 – 9:00 a.m.
  • Tue, Aug 26 – 12:00 p.m.
  • Fri, Aug 29 – 7:00 a.m.

WATCH:

Thune’s pro forma blueprint comes amid mounting pressure from Donald Trump, who has demanded the Senate remain open until all 150+ administration nominees are confirmed.

Under the Recess Appointments Clause, a president may only install nominees without Senate approval if both chambers are in formal recess for at least 10 days. By convening the Senate just long enough every few days, Thune blocks the possibility of Trump making unilateral appointees.

The Senate went into its August recess without confirming all of Trump’s pending judicial and district‑level appointments.

By the time lawmakers left town on Saturday evening, no deal had been reached to move dozens of Trump’s nominees, including U.S. district court picks, through final floor votes.

Only a small handful of nominees (such as Jeanine Pirro to be U.S. Attorney in D.C.) had advanced. Otherwise, nominees remained stalled in committees or waiting for cloture roll‑calls on the executive calendar.

Roughly 150–160 executive and judicial nominations, including over a dozen district court judges and U.S. attorney nominations, remained scheduled but unconfirmed.

The post GOP Senator John Thune Quietly BLOCKS Trump Recess Appointments with Sneaky Procedural Maneuver — Launches Series of Pro Forma Sessions to Keep Senate in Fake “Session” During August Recess appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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‘That’s What I Call Results!’: Trump Admin Saves Jobs, Kicks 1500 Non-English-Speaking Truckers Off the Road

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13 hours ago

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August 3, 2025

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that there have been about 1,500 truck drivers who do not speak English taken off the roads as part of a push to ensure foreign truck drivers are not causing accidents.

Back in 2016, the Obama administration stopped enforcing English proficiency requirements for truckers, according to a report from The Daily Signal.

But in May, Duffy issued a guidance making clear that truck drivers who cannot demonstrate a proficiency in English cannot drive.

The 1,500 drivers were taken off the roads within the first 3o days of the rules once more being enforced, according to The Daily Signal.

“Since I took action to enforce language proficiency requirements for truckers, our state partners have put roughly 1,500 unqualified drivers out of service. That’s what I call results!” Duffy posted on X.

“If you can’t read or speak our national language — ENGLISH — we won’t let your truck endanger the driving public.”

He added, “America First = Safety First.”

Duffy’s concerns were far from unfounded.

In January, there was a truck driver involved in a fatal crash that had to use a language interpreter for the post-crash investigation, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Another incident from 2019 involved a truck driver who could not proficiently speak English speeding through signs that warned of steep grades and dangerous curves, all at more than 100 miles per hour.

Four people died in that crash, per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

President Donald Trump had likewise insisted with an April executive order that the move centered on public safety.

“They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers,” the order said of truck drivers.

They also “need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English,” a position the order called “common sense.”

“It is the policy of my Administration to support America’s truckers and safeguard our roadways by enforcing the commonsense English-language requirement for commercial motor vehicle drivers and removing needless regulatory burdens that undermine the working conditions of America’s truck drivers,” the notice added.

“This order will help ensure a safe, secure, and efficient motor carrier industry.”

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post ‘That’s What I Call Results!’: Trump Admin Saves Jobs, Kicks 1500 Non-English-Speaking Truckers Off the Road appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel, Citing Gaza Conflict

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13 hours ago

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August 3, 2025

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via Wikimedia Commons

Slovenia has imposed an arms embargo on Israel, banning the export, import, and transit of weapons to and from the country.

This decision was announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob following a government session on July 31, 2025.

Slovenia claims to be the first European Union member to take such a step, citing the EU’s inability to act due to internal disagreements.

The government stated that no permits for military exports to Israel have been issued since October 2023, when the conflict in Gaza began.

Officials emphasized that the embargo is an independent measure to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Slovenia has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and increased aid deliveries to the region.

In early July 2025, Slovenia declared two Israeli ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, persona non grata, barring them from entry.

This action was based on their public statements regarding the conflict. Earlier, in June 2024, Slovenia recognized Palestinian statehood, joining countries like Ireland, Norway, and Spain in this move.

The conflict in Gaza started after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israeli territory, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the taking of hostages.

Israel responded with a military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure. Reports from Gaza’s health ministry indicate significant casualties, with ongoing international efforts to negotiate truces and provide aid.

Several other nations have taken similar diplomatic steps, including France, Britain, and Canada announcing potential recognition of a Palestinian state. Australia has also indicated that recognizing Palestinian statehood is under consideration.

Israel has criticized these declarations, arguing they could reward Hamas for its actions.

Israeli officials dismissed Slovenia’s embargo as insignificant, noting that Israel does not procure any defense materials from Slovenia.

An unnamed official stated that the country buys nothing from Slovenia, not even minor items.

Within the EU, there is growing pressure for measures against Israel, with Sweden and the Netherlands advocating for suspending parts of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The European Commission has proposed limiting Israel’s participation in the Horizon research program, though Germany opposes such steps.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed concerns about Israel’s potential diplomatic isolation during a visit to Jerusalem.

The United States remains a key ally to Israel, with President Donald Trump warning that recognizing Palestinian statehood might benefit Hamas.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance Gaza truce talks. These efforts aim to address the humanitarian crisis and secure a ceasefire.

The post Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel, Citing Gaza Conflict appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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